Facility planning
In the process of coming up with a design for a health facility it is important to keep in mind that time is evolving and that constructed structures tend to be permanent and hence taking into consideration the fact that needs associated with health facilities tend to change with time. It is important to take into consideration the present nature of the workspace, design, structure, technology and the flow of work (Sonja, 2011)..
Having innovative design techniques is invaluable as far as the support rendered to the patients is concerned, it also adds a lot to delivery of quality service. It is important to pinpoint various models of procurement and get advice on the one that fits the requirements of that health facility. In the process of acquiring a design for a health facility it important to consider management and determine what action to take to effect effective use of the facility in the facility, when designing cater for the issue of control infection (Sonja, 2011)..
It is inevitable that change is part of health care, therefore embedding the emerging technologies into the design of a health care brings the competitive advantage as far as health services are concerned. Putting health care in the future perspective, then unmatched answers to health problems will be greatly achieved. Hence putting a plan that will host technological developments of the future.
Putting up a plan that will host advancing technology and also adapting emerging trends into existence is key to a successful design for a health facility. In the quest for achieving effective technology, it should not be at the expense of the best practices in relation to current leading health care providers and also understanding fully the implications of reforms associated with health care. Putting all these consideration together then there is no doubt that the final design shall indeed translate into good financial return (Sonja, 2011).
Case Study
I did have a chance to be a contributor within a team of designers in Illinois that under took a three unit room project in Plantine. The project involved an upgrade to host a state of the art cyberknife facility. It’s a technology that is characterized by robotic tools. This technology is an alternative to the convectional method of surgery which treats tumors associated with cancer or otherwise, located in any part of the body. This technology is accurate considering the fact that it implements the same technique used by guided missile to the exact location of a tumor.
The main objective was not only to bring confidence to the patient but also incorporate advancements in technology into an already operational hospital space.
Plantin Illinois cyberknife facility also required renovation for an x-ray facility that was existent before, to be able to host a main 1,550 squared foot vault for treatment. 1,000,000, pounds of bricks made from tubes containing lead were used in the construction process to offer shielding to the cyberknife system, the system is placed on a 35” (inch) slab of concrete.
Due to the height that was required for the structure and the radiation, renovations regarding the patients floor that were above (the upper floor) of the facility was necessary, in the exterior of the room a monitoring room was implemented. The space used to host the cyberknife is about 155 square-feet.
The two rooms had underground cable carrying power, a main control station, a compressing pump for back-up service and a full-wall casing. To make the patients feel comfortable, an interior design team came up with natural paintings that brought a natural theme with a calming and warm effect.
The facility does serve members of Plantin community as well as others that come from as far as different state, since this facility is a first of its kind. The facility is and will continue to serve patients that have developed cancer that is as a result of cancer or non-cancer related. The accuracy of the equipment and its efficiency is unmatched, so far the facility a sees a lot of support from members of paltin and an increasing number of patient that prefer its service, advised or even referred to the facility.
Conclusion
From the a carefully considered design the facility has achieved its objective of satisfying both the patient which in turn has lead to good returns. It has proved that a careful and a well thought plan for designing a health facility is crucial and especially when putting into consideration emerging trends (Sonja, 2011).
Reference
Sonja, M. (2011). Cutting edge healthcare facility design. Web.